Sustaining and innovating marginalised rural livelihood pathways in development contexts
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Reading
Department Name: Sch of Agriculture Policy and Dev
Abstract
The aim of this 18 month project is to enhance and consolidate research collaboration and partnership between the University of Reading (UoR) UK and Tokyo Agriculture University (NODAI) and Hokkaido University (HU) in Japan. These institutions each have a world-class reputation in innovative agricultural and social science research. The academics involved in this project have shared interests in understanding marginalised and agriculturally-dependent livelihoods in developing contexts. Through the collaborative process of this project, joint critical understandings of perspectives on marginalised rural livelihoods will be developed, exploring conceptual thinking from within UK and Japanese academic discourse. By drawing on case studies from their own research in SE Asia and Africa, the collaborators seek to identify the practical and policy entry points to support these marginalised populations and ensure pathways to resilient rural livelihoods. In conjunction with the question of pathways and entry points to support marginalised populations is an understanding of the mechanisms by which that support takes place. One key area is communication, and rural communication services. Recognising that rural communities, particularly marginalised people, have complex needs is essential to creating effective strategies to support livelihoods without further embedding marginalisation. This approach will allow innovative reflection on how to support marginalised livelihoods, and how to engage with providing information or use communication in an empowering way. To address these challenges, conceptual and methodological innovation and insight are needed, through diverse and combined perspectives. This means working in a multidisciplinary way through a social science lens, reflecting on different academic and practical approaches. This richness through diversity is at the core of the UK-Japan network we seek to strengthen, using networking and showcase events, a series of knowledge exchange visits and writing workshops. The funding provides dedicated time to invest in delivering three high-quality joint research papers, and an application to a future research call based on the learning and ideas generated. Through developing this collaboration, we can also promote the sharing of best practice and knowledge exchange between UK and Japanese social science researchers and foster more formal research collaboration arrangements.
Planned Impact
This project will have a positive impact, both through the process of the project and the outputs, on 7 sets of beneficiaries. This will be through critical and cross-disciplinary engagement with theory and practice of development with regards to vulnerable rural livelihoods; comparative analysis of rural agriculture and community development in Japan and the UK; and, critical analysis of the role of rural communication in addressing the livelihoods of marginalised groups. The process of this research will allow for critical learning about processes of creating integrated international collaboration. The outputs of the project will provide academic insight into the thematic areas of the project's exploration.
Government international and agricultural development actors in the UK and Japan will benefit from the critical reflections of the project on international and agricultural development through an increased understanding of the perspectives and programming in international and rural development. They will be reached through participation in public meetings, targeting by project communication activities, and the publication outputs.
Research networks in international development and development communication will benefit from the comparative analysis of development thinking in each country as well as approaches to using communication to support programmes to support livelihoods pathways of marginalised groups. Indirectly, they may benefit from future collaboration goals of the project partners, as the larger project bid proposed as an objective of the project will involve further research actors. They will be reached through participation in public meetings, targeting by project communication activities, and the publication outputs.
International and bilateral development partners will benefit from the meta-analysis of marginalised livelihoods and communication activities to inform their programmes of support. FAO, UNICEF, USAID and others are active in this area. They will be reached through participation in public meetings, targeting by project communication activities, and the publication outputs.
Civil society organisations with an interest in rural agricultural livelihoods in Japan and the UK will benefit from the comparative analysis of each country through new understandings and innovations that can provide additional evidence to inform their work. They will be reached through participation in public meetings, targeting by project communication activities, and the publication outputs.
Non-governmental organisations working on rural development, marginalised livelihoods and rural communication will benefit from the evidence generated through the outputs of the project and engagement with the project teams during the process of the project. They will be reached through participation in public meetings, targeting by project communication activities, and the publication outputs.
National and international research institutes in both regions will have access to a richer understanding of marginalised rural livelihoods and approaches to international development through the outputs of the project which can inform their future research. They will be reached through participation in public meetings, targeting by project communication activities, and the publication outputs.
Private sector: Indirectly, through engagement with the project teams during fieldwork and outputs of the project, private sector actors in rural development in the UK and Japan may benefit from increased awareness of different rural agricultural livelihoods practices in the two countries. They may also be more attuned to rural livelihood issues that affect farmer decision making.
Government international and agricultural development actors in the UK and Japan will benefit from the critical reflections of the project on international and agricultural development through an increased understanding of the perspectives and programming in international and rural development. They will be reached through participation in public meetings, targeting by project communication activities, and the publication outputs.
Research networks in international development and development communication will benefit from the comparative analysis of development thinking in each country as well as approaches to using communication to support programmes to support livelihoods pathways of marginalised groups. Indirectly, they may benefit from future collaboration goals of the project partners, as the larger project bid proposed as an objective of the project will involve further research actors. They will be reached through participation in public meetings, targeting by project communication activities, and the publication outputs.
International and bilateral development partners will benefit from the meta-analysis of marginalised livelihoods and communication activities to inform their programmes of support. FAO, UNICEF, USAID and others are active in this area. They will be reached through participation in public meetings, targeting by project communication activities, and the publication outputs.
Civil society organisations with an interest in rural agricultural livelihoods in Japan and the UK will benefit from the comparative analysis of each country through new understandings and innovations that can provide additional evidence to inform their work. They will be reached through participation in public meetings, targeting by project communication activities, and the publication outputs.
Non-governmental organisations working on rural development, marginalised livelihoods and rural communication will benefit from the evidence generated through the outputs of the project and engagement with the project teams during the process of the project. They will be reached through participation in public meetings, targeting by project communication activities, and the publication outputs.
National and international research institutes in both regions will have access to a richer understanding of marginalised rural livelihoods and approaches to international development through the outputs of the project which can inform their future research. They will be reached through participation in public meetings, targeting by project communication activities, and the publication outputs.
Private sector: Indirectly, through engagement with the project teams during fieldwork and outputs of the project, private sector actors in rural development in the UK and Japan may benefit from increased awareness of different rural agricultural livelihoods practices in the two countries. They may also be more attuned to rural livelihood issues that affect farmer decision making.
| Description | This partnership project seeks to enhance academic collaborations between the University of Reading and Tokyo University of Agriculture (NODAI) and Hokkaido University in Japan, and facilitate new research networks and knowledge exchange to identify livelihood pathways and opportunities for socially marginalised communities in development contexts. The project has not yet finished, however so far we can report the following specific outcomes relating to the project goals. 1. The workshops and showcase events sparked a critical debate about differences in Development Studies approaches between the UK and Japan and the implications for education delivery, research, policy and practice. The discourse from these discussions has been captured and developed into a 'think-piece' paper, which will be submitted for publication. There will be further reflection of the findings of this paper at a project showcase planned at Hokkaido University in May 2020. 2. Staff exchange between UoR, NODAI and Hokkaido University was important to the consolidation of institutional relationships between the partners. The time for face-to-face discussion was invaluable to the development of a new joint Masters programme between NODAI and UoR in Applied International Development proposed to start in 2021. This will provide interdisciplinary training for Japanese students, reflecting a novel approach for the Development Studies training in Japan, and will generate new cohorts prepared to respond to complex future challenges in rural development as well as enhance their employability. Additionally, staff exchange led to improved understanding of joint research priorities. This focused approach has led to pledged financial support from NODAI for a research study with the academics at the UoR (the UoR have identified matched funding) on rural communication services to enhance 'bio-villages' across SE Asia, which builds on existing agricultural extension in Nepal and will focus on the Philippines in the next phase. Dr Osbahr remains a Visiting Professor at Hokkaido University while Dr Cardey is now associated to NODAI, both generating new teaching input into Japanese curricular. These outcomes are long-term commitments by the academics and institutions involved in the partnership project. 3. The showcase events and staff exchanges led to the identification of new academic contacts and discipline specific associations, as well as identification of appropriate policymakers and future funders in both Japan and the UK. Illustrations of fruitful engagement so far include Prof Ito at Nagoya University (with links to Development Studies associations and networks in Japan), Prof Inoue at Waseda University (with interests in agricultural livelihoods), the British Council in Japan, FAO, JIKA, meetings by UoR staff with Japanese funders, and new contacts in Agricultural Economics and Crop Science at the UoR). It was also found that the project institutions in UK and Japan have matching networks of existing partners across SE Asia (for example, with the University at Los Banos in the Philippines, Bogor and ITB in Indonesia, Kasetsart University in Thailand), which has allowed rapid engagement and commitment to the writing of larger joint research proposals targeted to upcoming calls. Additionally, the rural visits by the UoR academics in Japan initiated a focused pilot proposal on the use of photo and videovoice to examiner narratives of rural life amongst elder farmers, and in doing so, explores social change in rural livelihood dynamics and reveal local understandings of innovation or the role of added-value, food and culture. Funders and case studies have been identified to support this activity. 4. The dedicated research space facilitated through this grant for debate and writing has created new research knowledge and development of the application of a new framework. Specifically, we have focused on two research areas and the evidence is being written into two academic papers for publication. The first tests and develops a new Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) framework for effective rural communication services to marginalised people in developing contexts, using the project academics' existing case studies from the Philippines, Indonesia and Nepal. This focus was enhanced by the first showcase event at the UoR with the FAO. The findings paper will be presented at the IAMCR conference (International Association for Media and Communication Research) in Finland in July 2020, and additionally a policy/practitioner brief will be posted on the three University media and websites, distributed through the newly established networks and through the FAO website and networks. The framework has potential to be developed in novel ways through future joint research proposals and will be useful to policymakers and practitioners working in the sector. The UoR staff have been invited to visit the FAO in Rome to discuss future support. The second explores best practice in agricultural innovation and communication for social change in Japan and the UK. Already, the rural visit in the UK and the showcase event at NODAI with Prof Shinwachi have led to innovation rotation practice transfer from UK to Japan for experimentation with farmer cooperatives in Hokkaido, and the development of a focused paper on agricultural innovation and social behaviour change through rural communication services application. 5. The workshops and showcase events proved critical for strategic networking by early career researchers, and so far have resulted in two recent UOR graduates seeking funding to undertake Doctoral research with joint supervision between the UoR and Japan and two early career researchers at NODAI being named on a new research application. Information about the partnership and opportunities have been communicated by facebook at the University of Reading and a video produced that will be made available via the website. |
| Exploitation Route | Rural communities in particular will ultimately benefit from research that seeks to provide improved frameworks and insights for policymakers (e.g. FAO, government) and practitioners (e.g. NGOs or agricultural extension agents) that are responsible for engagement, delivery and evaluating rural communications services. While the research focus remains within SE Asia, the framework can also be used in wider geographic contexts. Rural communities in Japan and Nepal have also benefit from the knowledge exchange on agricultural innovation with the project academics so far, but the proposed activities will extend this to other developing contexts in SE Asia. The insights will be communicated through a range of approaches to wider audiences. The outcomes will be assess further towards the end of the project funding. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Description | This 18month project is now completed. The project delivered all the workshops, showcase events and staff exchange that were scheduled and these helped to enhance staff, student and policymaker capacity, and identified a set of tangible pathways for future research and new knowledge development. The final stages were affected by the covid pandemic and this limited the level of engagement we anticipated towards the end of the project from the Japanese partners due to their country restrictions on working. Our partnership activities facilitated increased awareness of different cultural and contextual approaches to interdisciplinary working within Development Studies, and between Japan and the UK. Non-academic actors (agricultural sector, NGOs and policymakers) benefited from critical reflections about rural communication services, the socio-economic and cultural dimensions of rural change and agricultural innovation, and begun to consider ways to integrate new approaches or frameworks into their work (e.g. with UK innovations being tested in northern Japan or new frameworks being tested against case studies in the region). These discussions have lead to further thinking about ways to develop the framework with the FAO. The project activities also led to new education opportunities to enhance postgraduate student training, which reflects this awareness and ensures legacy in the approach. Specifically, the UoR and Tokyo NODAI have established a Masters Double Degree in Applied International Development and recruitment has started with the first registration of students in September 2023. This has a general impact on the Education sector but more specifically impacts the skillset of future cohorts of researchers, making them more able to engage with challenging interdisciplinary rural development issues. Continued leadership in this approach and visits from UoR to Tokyo NODAI have continued as have teaching delivery to Hokkaido University and Tokyo NODAI, and the continued development of a shared publication and on-going horizon scanning for the shared research follow up. The funding facilitated the consolidation of partnership between the UoR and Tokyo NODAI and ways of working for future collaborative research. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Approval of a dual Masters programme between UoR UK and NODAI Japan that influences training of postgraduate students |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Double Masters Degree UoR-NODAI |
| Organisation | Tokyo University of Agriculture |
| Department | Nodai Research Institute |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dr Cardey (UoR) has led the discussions to facilitate collaboration for a two-year Double Masters degree in Applied International Development. This has been supported by the UoR International Partnerships team, with Ashley Burke visiting NODAI in September 2019. Prof Osbahr already established an MoU between the two universities to facilitate student engagement and the specific development of the Masters programme will be a significant commitment by both institutions, added to this formal agreement. Prof Osbahr also attended discussions in September 2019 at NODAI. During 2020, with the impact of covid restricting travel, a focus was placed on completing the paperwork for the double masters. This has now been approved and marketing materials have been prepared. UoR has agreed a 40% discount to tuition fees for Japanese students on the programme. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Nakasone has led discussions with Ms Goto at the NODAI International Office, with senior management support. This has required module matching, credit transfer and timetable linkage. NODAI has agreed a 50% discount for UoR students on the joint programme. |
| Impact | MSc Applied International Development Double Degree is due to start in 2023 due to the impacts of covid on the timeframe. The two year programme will be interdisciplinary and build capacity of Japanese postgraduates by exposure to Development Studies discourse and approaches in the UK, and UK students to opportunities to take technical modules or research in Japan. This would enhance their employability, the legacy of Japan-UK research linkages through alumni and develop meaningful partnership. This a a genuine 'dual' programme, rather than a 1+1 structure and reflects the partnership commitment to developing a shared knowledge exchange and joint curricular. This is an excellent reflection of the good working relationship developed between the UK and Japan education institutions. There has been follow up through 2021 and the start of 2022 to ensure the marketing and publicity goes live a year before the first intake. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Intention from NODAI to provide matched funding for partner academic |
| Organisation | Tokyo University of Agriculture |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Through our input to discussions, facilitation of workshops and face-to-face visits we were able to meet the Director and discuss future research funding options and collaborations. The UoR staff will need to secure matched funding to participate and have identified internal sources. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Tokyo Agricultural University (NODAI) has agreed to support the partner academic Dr Nakasone with costs towards a further study with UoR (Dr Osbahr and Dr Cardey). We are still awaiting the details of this financially from NODAI, but it will allow the extension of collaboration and we intend to add an annex to our institutions' MoU to reflect the initiative. |
| Impact | There are no outputs or outcomes as this will start at the end of the existing activities, which are delayed due to the impacts of covid on working. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Cardey - Japan Embassy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | Dr Cardey attended a Partnerships Fair hosted by the Japan Embassy, London, on 17th May 2020, presenting the partnership project. The engagement facilitated new contacts for future funding for a range of activities (PhD support, staff mobility, research and events). Dr Cardey and Dr Osbahr visited the Sasakowa Foundation in London as a result. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Discussion seminar Hokkaido University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | As part of the Visiting Professor status that Prof Henny Osbahr has established with Hokkaido University, she gave a seminar in July 2021 on resilience and development with postgraduate students on a PARE collaborative programme that links Japan with Indonesia and Thailand. This has benefited capacity building for students in these countries by learning new perspectives for interdisciplinary approaches to managing challenges in the region, such as rural livelihood change and marginalisation, climate change impacts, urbanisation, good security, sustainable development. The seminar brought together different disciplines to explore knowledge and understanding of normative approaches, assessment and solutions. The seminar was done remotely due to covid travel restrictions. Further teaching activities are booked for July 2022 which may be in person depending on circumstances. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Engagement activity and teaching delivery at Tokyo NODAI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Dr Sarah Cardey visited Tokyo NODAI in October 2022 to follow up with the recruitment process for our shared double degree MSc in Applied International Development and to give a talk about the partnership, opportunities and research theme. This increased awareness of the novel approach in the Japanese education system to increase internationalisation of Japanese students by studying in the UK for one year and initiated debate about the role of interdisciplinary training for shared challenges in rural transformation in both the UK and Japan, as well as types of future research focus. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Japan House Online Events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Sarah Cardey participated in a series of events hosted by Japan House which focused on traditional artisan and rural practice from Japan. One research dimension that emerged from the partnership workshops was exploration of traditional rural livelihoods, inter-generational change and innovation and a paper is being developed and research grants written to explore this. As part of this agenda, Dr Cardey engaged with the events to network and introduce the partnership and research ideas during discussion. The insights inspired further direction in the research approach the partnership could follow. The series included the following sessions hosted by Japan House and supported by the University of East Anglia: In Conversation with Ochiai Yoichi: Sustainable Media Art & the Legacy of Minakata Kumagusu Thursday 17 February 2022, 12:00-13:00 (GMT) Oboro kombu - The Art of Shaved Seaweed with Sakai Craftsmen Goda Mitsunobu and Hasegawa Yu Thursday 9 December 2021, 12:00-13:00 (GMT) Sakai Forged Knives: Workshop Visit & Conversation Thursday 7 October 2021, 12:00-13:00 (BST) Transnational Curatorial Practices - A Talk by Takahashi Mizuki Wednesday 7 July 2021, 12:00-13:00 (BST) Kibiso-Textile Sustainability in Yamagata: Factory Tour & Conversation Friday 4 June 2021, 12:00-13:00 (BST) Tango Chirimen: Factory Visit & Conversation Friday 14 May 2021, 12:00-13:00 (BST) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Networking workshop 1 UoR |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The International Development Department, University of Reading, hosted a networking workshop on 10th June 2019 to provide a mechanism for wider participation with other academics beyond the named partner academics, early career researchers and students. The format allowed presentations by the visiting academics, knowledge exchange with the audience and informal networking to encourage discussion about opportunities through the partnership. The workshop initiated new contacts between researchers in the UK and Japan partners and led to individual follow-ups on new research ideas or future visits. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Networking workshop 2 UoR |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The Agricultural Economics research group in the University of Reading hosted a networking workshop on 7th June 2019 to provide a mechanism for wider participation with other academics beyond the named partner academics, early career researchers and students. The format allowed presentations by Dr Nakasone, knowledge exchange with the audience and informal networking to encourage discussion about opportunities through the partnership. The workshop initiated new contacts between researchers in the UK and Japan partners and led to individual follow-ups on new research ideas or future visits. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Networking workshop 3 NODAI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The Department of International Agricultural Development, NODAI Japan, hosted a networking workshop for the project on 17th September 2019 to provide a mechanism for wider participation with other academics beyond the named partner academics, early career researchers and students. The format allowed an oversight introduction from the PI, followed by presentations by the visiting academics from the UK, Hokkaido University and staff and researchers at NODAI. The workshop facilitated knowledge exchange, informal networking and discussion about opportunities through the partnership. A participatory exercise was facilitated by the PI to encourage discussion about interdisciplinary development studies and help frame the third paper. The workshop supported capacity building for postgraduate researchers in the Department and initiated new contacts between academics in NODAI and the UK partners, which led to individual follow-ups on new research ideas or future visits. The event was supported by senior management in NODAI. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Partnership agreement meeting with FAO |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A meeting between the Department of International Development at UoR and Communication for Development at Food and Agriculture Organisation, Rome, to discuss the use of the FAO framework for rural communication services in this project. The project initiated this discussion through the first workshop hosted at the UoR with the Japan partners, and the FAO framework has formed the basis of the workshops and writing meetings held in Tokyo to test the ideas through the partner academics' empirical case studies. This is being written into a paper and has attracted interest from the C4D division within FAO. FAO have expressed commitment to partnership taking the development of the framework forward, engaging both the UoR and Japan partners and to support ways to test it further. To progress this, a key outcome is that the FAO and the Department of International Development at UoR are developing a formal partnership to help facilitate this process. This will provide opportunities for academics at both Hokkaido and NODAI to engage in the activities that follow. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Partnership video |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A film maker and communications expert from the University of Reading attended Showcase 2 at NODAI Tokyo in September 2019 to make a short video about the partnership and the activities. This involved individual interviews with key academics from Japan and the UK. The video will be used to promote future partnership activities and can be placed on the partner organisation websites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Planning meeting for Hokkaido Showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The project team developed a covid response plan to manage the delay to a showcase event to be hosted at Hokkaido University in Japan. The speaker for the event, Prof Sanae Ito, from Nagoya University, has agreed to be the keynote and will also engage in the development of the final paper. This event will likely have to run as a webinar in spring 2021 after covid impact ease in the UK although the time differences between the UK and Japan make this challenging. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Rural visit 1 Berkshire UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | To share understanding about the challenges of rural change with the UK for the Japan project partners, a day rural visit to the University of Reading farms and rural farming areas with farmer contact in Berkshire, UK was facilitated. This provided new case materials and information for updated teaching of farming approaches for the Japan partner at NODAI and will share knowledge and innovations about UK farming with agriculture students at NODAI. The innovation practices observed have also formed the basis of a new experimental grant by NODAI in Hokkaido with farmers. As part of the rural visit, there was an opportunity for partner networking with crop scientists at UoR. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Rural visit 2 Chiba Prefecture Japan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A rural visit day on 25th March 2019 was facilitated by NODAI (Dr Katsushige and Dr Terada) to Shiroi City, Chiba Prefecture to share understanding about the Japanese regional farming sectors, social and innovation transitions (resulting from an aging farming demography with small land plots and cultural attachment to land), farmer markets and value-added approaches. The visit provided the UoR partners an opportunity to discuss rural farming dynamics and develop insights into smallholder farming on horticulture, rice and fruit. This included observations about new farming challenges, innovation opportunities, market structure and focus (e.g. on size and shape rather than organic produce, hobby farming versus ability to commercialise) and changes in government policy to support agricultural associations. Included in the farm and farmer market locations, was an innovative organic demonstration site and meeting with Dr Hidekazu Toyohara (President of MERCADO ltd) and Dr Asaaki Otsuka (NPO Koshi-Ho). The rural visit initiated new research ideas for the second paper and future research projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Showcase Event 1 University of Reading |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The University of Reading hosted a Showcase Event on 11th June 2019 on the project theme of 'Sustaining and Innovating Marginalised Rural Livelihood Pathways in Development Contexts'. The event consisted of: an introduction to the value and activities of project partnership between the University of Reading, the Tokyo Agricultural University (NODAI) and Hokkaido in Japan by Dr Henny Osbahr, including an introduction to the Japanese universities by Dr Masatoshi Sasaoka and Dr Katsushige Nakasone; a special hour lecture by Marzia Pafumi (Communication for Development Team, Food and Agriculture Organisation) on "FAO experiences of frameworks for improved rural communication services"; followed by debate on application and design of frameworks for policy and implementation. The showcase was followed by a social opportunity for networking with hospitality. The purpose of this first project showcase was to promote the partnership and strengthen the collaboration process and project activities and was attended by 45 participants, including students, early career researchers, academics from a range of different disciplines, practitioners and international agencies. The event helped to consolidate the partnership through engagement with senior management, raised awareness of the partnership activities within the university and generated knowledge exchange about the role of rural communication services. This helped to frame the focus of the first paper for the project and advance engagement with the FAO. The social event provided networking opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Showcase event 2 NODAI Japan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Tokyo University of Agriculture (NODAI) hosted a Showcase Event on 17th September 2019 on the project theme of 'Sustaining and Innovating Marginalised Rural Livelihood Pathways in Development Contexts'. The event consisted of: an introduction to the value and activities of project partnership between the University of Reading, the Tokyo Agricultural University (NODAI) and Hokkaido in Japan by Dr Henny Osbahr; a special hour lecture by Prof Hironobu Shiwachi on "Experiences from agricultural Innovation and communication approaches for food security", with examples of work in Nepal with JICA and in Nigeria with IITA; followed by debate on agricultural innovation and social behaviour change through rural communication services application. The showcase was followed by a social opportunity for networking with hospitality. The purpose of this second project showcase was to promote the partnership within Japan and strengthen the collaboration process. It was attended by 50 participants, including students, early career researchers, academics from a range of different disciplines, academics from the US, China, Philippines and Indonesia, NGO practitioners and policy makers. The event helped to consolidate the partnership through engagement with senior management, raised awareness of the partnership activities within the university and within Japan and generated knowledge exchange about supporting rural transitions. The discussions helped to frame the focus of the second paper for the project and advance engagement with appropriate academics to support its development within NODAI. The social event provided networking opportunities, especially for early career researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Small writing workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The project team focused on finalising the implementation of the Dual Double Masters between UoR and NODAI, which ensured that finalisation of the paperwork and marketing could be developed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Social media profiling of partnership |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Social media profiling (using Facebook and Central University Communication support press release) via support from the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development University of Reading Communications Manager to promote and report on the UoR Showcase event in June 2019. These posts reached a large number of people outside the University, including alumni, NGOs and professionals internationally, and generated awareness and requests for information. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Staff exchange Nakasone to UoR |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Dr Nakasone (NODAI) completed a one week staff exchange to the University of Reading in March 2020 to participate a debate about agricultural innovations and rural change in Japan with academics at the UoR, including the project academics. This helped to consolidate the research focus for paper 2. The exchange also facilitated writing time for Dr Nakasone towards papers and grants at the UoR, and sourcing of research materials in London. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |